Emmanuel Macron has called on Massoud Pezeshkian to immediately halt what he described as unacceptable attacks carried out by Iran across the region.
In a statement following a phone conversation with the Iranian leader, Macron said he urged Tehran to stop military actions conducted either directly or through allied groups operating in several countries in the Middle East.
“I called on him to put an immediate end to the unacceptable attacks Iran is carrying out against countries in the region, whether directly or through proxies, including in Lebanon and Iraq.” - Emmanuel Macron
He also stressed that France is acting strictly within a defensive framework aimed at protecting its interests and regional partners.
Warning over growing regional instability
Macron warned that the escalating tensions risk plunging the Middle East into deeper instability with long-term consequences.
“The unchecked escalation we are witnessing is plunging the entire region into chaos, with major consequences today and for the years to come,” he said, adding that ordinary citizens across the region, including in Iran, are paying the price of the crisis.
According to the French president, the current situation highlights the urgent need for a new political and security framework capable of ensuring lasting peace.
Calls for nuclear guarantees and maritime security
Macron said any future regional security arrangement must ensure that Iran never acquires nuclear weapons while also addressing concerns about its ballistic missile programme and broader regional activities.
He also emphasised the importance of restoring global shipping routes, particularly in the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most critical energy transit corridors.
“Freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz must be restored as soon as possible,” Macron stated.
During the discussion, the French leader also raised the case of two detained French nationals, urging Iranian authorities to allow them to return home.
Macron said Cécile Kohler and Jacques Paris had endured a prolonged ordeal and should be reunited with their families. “Their ordeal has gone on for far too long, and they belong with their loved ones,” he said.
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